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Bay Area hospital workers strike
Thousands of hospital workers are striking today, affecting services at eight hospitals in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano and Lake counties.
The walkout of some 3,500 doctors, registered nurses, emergency employees, technicians and other members of the Health Care Workers Union SEIU Local 250 was prompted by the hospitals' alleged unlawful practices during negotiations and their refusal to bargain in good faith, said union spokesman Allen White.
The strike is at three Catholic Healthcare West hospitals, including Seton Medical Center, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and St. Mary's Medical Center, and five Sutter Health Hospitals, including Alta Bates Medical Center, Eden Medical Center, Summit Medical Center, Sutter Solano Medical Center and Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
White says the union has filed more than 20 charges against CHW and Sutter for actions taken against employees, including threatening employees and conducting illegal surveillance
